Nuggets and Cavaliers Win NBA Playoff Openers

Jokic's triple-double and Murray's 30 points lead Denver past Minnesota, while Cleveland dominates Toronto.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:53am

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in shades of blue, red, and yellow, representing the action and energy of a basketball game.The opening games of the NBA playoffs showcase the league's top contenders, with the Nuggets and Cavaliers delivering dominant performances.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 in their NBA playoff opener, led by Nikola Jokic's triple-double of 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Jamal Murray also scored 30 points for the Nuggets. In the other game, the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Toronto Raptors.

Why it matters

The opening games of the NBA playoffs set the tone for the postseason, with top contenders like the Nuggets and Cavaliers looking to make deep runs. Strong performances from star players like Jokic and Murray could be a sign of things to come.

The details

Jokic shook off a slow start to dominate the game, recording his 11th career playoff triple-double. Murray provided the scoring punch, making 10 of his 18 shots. For the Cavaliers, they cruised past the Raptors behind a balanced attack, with six players scoring in double figures.

  • The games were played on Saturday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The three-time NBA MVP had a triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead the Nuggets to victory.

Jamal Murray

The Nuggets' star guard scored 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting to provide the scoring punch for Denver.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers dominated the Toronto Raptors, with six players scoring in double figures.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors were unable to keep up with the Cavaliers' balanced attack in the lopsided loss.

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What they’re saying

“I thought the second quarter was a much better defensive effort that really started trending into the second half.”

— Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Player

The takeaway

The Nuggets and Cavaliers showed why they are among the top contenders in the NBA playoffs, with dominant performances from their star players and balanced team efforts. The opening games set the stage for what could be an exciting postseason.